When we pray, we do so in many different postures. We bow our heads, get on our knees, lie silently as our hearts speak to the Lord, and even stand or sit with our eyes closed. Sometimes life’s events and circumstances cause us to drop to our knees or on our faces and cry out in anguish to the Lord God for help. Cancer is one of life’s circumstances that brings us face-to-face with our mortality—and with our utter dependence upon the Lord for help and healing. Our first recourse is to pray, which truly is our best offense and defense against and through all of the tribulations of life. We also pray, of course, to praise God for Who He is and for all the Lord Christ has done, is doing, and will do.
When cancer strikes, a Christian’s first response is often shock, because, after all, we are human. Most of us cry and lean in with love and compassion to the person who has this insidious disease. But in the midst of all of this, we pray. We pray for whoever is sick, we pray alone and with them, and we pray for those closest to them. We pray for the care team who is overseeing the treatments and surgeries, and we pray for ourselves—that we would be part of ‘team encouragement” for our friend or family member. And we also pray for ourselves, that we would love our loved one as best we can.
I’m going to get personal through this article. I pray you are encouraged as I share some prayers for a few of the people I have loved: my mom, who died of bone cancer while I was still an unbeliever, my late husband, who died of colon cancer, my niece, who just completed chemo and will face surgery for breast cancer, and my father-in-law, who is undergoing immunotherapy for a cancerous mass in his lung. As you read and reflect, I pray you find strength from and solace in the Lord Jesus, Who is our Savior and Lord (2 Peter 3:18) and the “Founder and Perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
Christ is for you, dear Christian.
Rest in Him.
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Please insert your loved one’s name where I have typed “loved (or beloved) one.” Please add to them or take away what seems best to you. If you are going through a season of cancer, you have my prayers. And more importantly, God hears them.
Lord Jesus, I am stunned by this news. I have no words, and I sure don’t know what or how to pray. Please take my groanings and make sense of them as only You can. Please calm our fears, take away our anxiety, and help us focus on You. Your goodness. Your perfect plan for our lives. Your Word says a man’s heart plans his way, but You direct our steps. Oh, how I praise You that I am not in charge of my life. I’d make a mess before I even start. But this cancer, it feels like a mess we cannot get out of. Help us as we navigate the many facets of this whole experience. Help us be a light to others You allow us to interact with as we go to doctors’ appointments. You will be glorified in this, no matter what happens. And we know what comes next should our loved one say farewell to us and this life. They will see Jesus and be with Him forever. Wow, what a promise, Lord. But even with that, we’d still like more time with them here. As Jesus said, however, not our will, but Yours.
I love You, Lord. Amen.
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Father God, I am lifting my loved one to You. They don’t know Jesus as Lord, and I fear for their destiny. I know You long for all to put their faith and trust in You. If it comes down to it, I ask You to save them spiritually even if You don’t heal them physically.
Lord, You can even use the death of a saint to draw people to Yourself through our Lord Christ. I am in awe of You and how You planned my redemption even before time began. You sent Your only Son to live the life I cannot live and die the death I deserve. I pray my loved one comes to know You as they go through this time. Use the cancer to draw them to Yourself. Help me be a light to them and help me share the Gospel with them. May Your Holy Spirit bring them to life so they may know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Even though I pray for their healing, knowing Jesus as Lord is the most important thing. It’s in His name I pray. Amen.
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Lord, I’m sad, angry, and bitter right now. Please help me through this time of doubt. I know You are good, but I am fighting to stay positive here. I am so anxious about my loved one. I truly want the best for them. But You are the only One who knows what’s best for all of us. Please keep me centered on Christ and His mercy and grace. Help me to fly to You in every doubt-filled season. Forgive me for not fully trusting. Because of Jesus, I know You do.
Lord I am casting my cares upon You because I know You care for me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Father, my emotions are all over the place right now. But You hold our hopeful, anxious, and even grief-filled tears in Your bottle. Right now, I have hope that the cancer affecting my loved one is being destroyed, and I have joyful tears. Please, let this hope continue on into praise to You for healing my loved one. I know my hope in medical technology may be short-lived because there is so much that we don't yet know about this disease. My hope instead rests in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. My Strong Tower. You, Father, have promised never to leave us or forsake us, and I believe You. Please take my hope in healing and turn it into reality. For it’s in the powerful name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed with praise and thankfulness to and for You. You have healed my beloved one and we give You all the glory for what You have done in them. Along this journey, You have touched so many lives because of the Gospel proclaimed to all You have allowed us to interact with. What a gracious and loving God You are.
Had this turned out differently, we would still praise You, for You are holy, sovereign, and good. I pray for good recovery and continued health for my loved one. I pray they make much of You. Thank You for healing my loved one. In the matchless name of Christ, I pray. Amen.
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Lord, I don’t understand. Please help me understand why You didn’t heal my loved one. We’ve been praying. We’ve been entrusting them to You, and honestly, we thought for sure You were going to heal them. What do I do with this ache in my soul? How do I handle this anger? Your Word says all things work together for good for those who love You and who are called according to Your purpose. I know this. I believe it. Tell me what’s good about losing my loved one to cancer.
Yet these things I do know. You are holy, just, and good. You love me and You sent Your only Son to live the life I cannot live and die the death I deserve.
Your ways are not my ways. I am certain that I will look back and I will see Your loving hand in all of this. Your Word says nothing can separate us from the love of You in Christ Jesus. No, not even death. I know my beloved is now with You, and I wouldn’t desire them back here. To be with You is our ultimate best place. Lord Jesus, thank You for preparing a place for us and for the promise that we will see our loved one again, and in Your presence we will rejoice and praise You together and forever. I love You, Lord. Amen.
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Many Christians flock to the Psalms in times of anxiety, fear, doubt, and yes, praise. The Psalms showcase the whole gamut of real human emotions, from anger to doubt to joy and hope. They can help us work through our own emotions and ground us in God's goodness, despite the dark valleys we may be in. “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures” (Romans 15:4).
The following are some very helpful portions of the Psalms to guide your prayers:
“Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;
Your rod and your staff — they comfort me.”“He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will never be shaken.”“The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
Therefore my heart celebrates,
and I give thanks to Him with my song.”“Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am weak;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are shaking;
my whole being is shaken with terror.”(Psalm 6:2-3a)
“Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am alone and afflicted.
The distresses of my heart increase;
bring me out of my sufferings.”
As you pray, I am praying with and for you. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).
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This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
Prayers for Healing
Morning Prayers
Prayers for Family
Prayers for Surgery
Prayers for Strength
Night Prayers Before Bed
Prayers for Protection
The Lord's Prayer: Our Father
Originally published Thursday, 23 July 2026.
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